Harrisburg council OKs $4 million sales-tax bond, schedules bids for Prospect and Southeastern roadwork

HARRISBURG — The Harrisburg City Council on Monday approved Resolution 2024-10 authorizing issuance of Sales Tax Revenue Bond Series 2024 in the amount of $4,000,000 to fund road conversions and related improvements.

City engineering staff told the council the funding will support reconstructing sections of Prospect Street and Southeastern Avenue and other paving work described in the engineering report. "The estimate right now is between, you know, 3.3 and 3.5 [million]," the engineer said, adding the $4,000,000 authorization provides a funding cushion. Toby Morris, who said he prepared the resolution, told the council the bond will fund conversion of gravel segments to paved roadway and related repairs.

The council also approved a motion to advertise bids for the Prospect Street and Southeastern Avenue roadway improvements. Staff said the bid advertisement dates will be July 25 and August 1, with bid openings scheduled for Aug. 8, and described a phased approach starting just east of the railroad tracks, proceeding south to Willow and then to the section down to 270 Fourth to avoid conflicts with ongoing Southeast infrastructure work.

Engineering staff gave a status update on other work connected to the same corridor, saying utilities for Southeast infrastructure phases 1 and 2 are largely complete, crews are removing dirt, and mainline paving will occur "this month and then into August." The report noted Maple Street work is slated to start in late July or early August, concrete removals and saw cutting are expected to take most of August, and milling and asphalt overlay would follow after Labor Day.

The council voted on the bond resolution by roll call; the transcript records 'Aye' votes from Westermann, Maxwell and Krasinski. The motion to advertise bids passed by roll call with recorded 'Aye' votes from Mr. Moon, Maxwell and Wazinski.

Staff cautioned that some work (such as certain railroad crossing signals and drainage fixes) is handled separately or remains in design and may affect phasing. The engineer said the city posts project maps and status updates on its website and will update dates on the public report.

What happens next: City staff will publish the bid advertisements on the announced dates and proceed with the procurement process; construction phasing will follow the plan presented to council. Specific contract awards and construction start dates will be decided after bids are opened and evaluated.